There will always be a strong need for thoughtful, strategic housing communication, especially when it comes to elevating solutions and driving meaningful progress. That need remains constant, even as the housing and policy landscape continues to evolve. These changes influence how we frame challenges, engage different audiences, and shape the narrative. As priorities shift and new voices join the conversation, our approach to communicating the urgency and impact of housing issues must evolve as well.
Last week, the National Housing Conference (NHC) brought together housing and communications experts, thought leaders, policymakers, and journalists from across the country for Solutions for Housing Communications at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Participants attending in person and online met to share best practices, align messaging, amplify impact, and help shape housing policy debates unfolding in the nation’s capital and beyond. They also exchanged ideas and strategies focused on improving and advancing affordable housing conversations nationwide.
Held on April 8 at the National Press Club, this one-of-a-kind event is the only national convening dedicated exclusively to housing communications. Attendees explored proven and emerging strategies for strengthening housing narratives and increasing public understanding of the importance of affordable housing in communities across the country.
NHC President and CEO David Dworkin opened the event by underscoring the importance of listening as a foundation for both effective communication and successful advocacy.
“In the world of politics, debate is essential,” Dworkin said. “But good policy depends on good listening, and good legislation requires compromise. That can’t occur unless we are having a conversation where everyone actually listens, especially when we disagree.”
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner delivered keynote remarks that highlighted HUD’s current priorities and its strategic approach to addressing the nation’s housing challenges. He emphasized the importance of collaboration across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in advancing meaningful housing solutions.
“My goal personally, and our team’s goal at HUD, is to make the opportunity of the American Dream available to all Americans. And the core of that dream, the center and the beating heart if you will, is homeownership,” Secretary Turner said. “The benefits of homeownership ripple out in the broader community. Caring for your own property… gives you a stake in your community and a strong incentive to improve your neighborhood.”
He also discussed the Trump administration’s recent housing-related executive orders focused on cutting red tape in building supply and lending, and he emphasized the costs that complex regulations impose on builders and homebuyers.
HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor joined Dworkin for a fireside chat that explored America’s civil rights legacy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, along with the Administration’s current priorities for fair housing and civil rights enforcement. Assistant Secretary Trainor outlined his goals for the office and described his philosophy of a limited, textualist interpretation of civil rights and the Fair Housing Act.
He shared three guiding principles for fair housing in his role:
- Restoring fair housing enforcement to its core statutory objective of eliminating intentional discrimination.
- Recognizing that all Americans have civil rights and liberties that must be protected.
- Enforcing the Fair Housing Act within constitutional limitations.
He also highlighted HUD’s theme for Fair Housing Month, “Civil Rights at America’s 250th: Restoring fair housing within constitutional limitations.”
“For too long, fair housing enforcement has operated as if it were independent of the Fair Housing Act’s textual commitments. Instead of focusing on intentional discrimination against individuals, enforcement became enmeshed in expansive theories untethered from statutory texts, among them disparate impact, environmental justice, appraisal bias, and other efforts to police otherwise lawful market behavior under the guise of pursuing equity. This approach did not make housing more fair. It made housing more expensive, bureaucratic, and out of reach for average Americans. I am proud to report that error is over under my leadership,” said Assistant Secretary Trainor.
Attendees also heard from The Washington Post’s Rachel Siegel, The Wall Street Journal’s Nicole Friedman, and POLITICO’s Victoria Guida in a panel moderated by Bloomberg News’ Katy O’Donnell. The journalists shared their perspectives on what makes a story stand out today, how advocates can be credible and responsive sources, and where housing coverage is heading amid economic and political uncertainty.
In today’s fast-moving media environment, attendees recognize that communicating clearly and confidently is more important than ever. In the session, “Communicating with Confidence in Today’s Media Landscape,” Howard Lalli, President of HL Strategy, guided participants through practical strategies for engaging effectively on public platforms. Drawing on his editorial leadership experience at publications such as The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, and his work launching Edelman’s Atlanta issues and crisis practice, Lalli shared tools for crafting compelling messages, navigating interviews with confidence, and staying focused under pressure.
Lalli was joined on stage by Audrey Eason, Communications Director at Clayton, who described how the company translates complex housing issues into human-centered stories, works to reshape perceptions of modern manufactured housing through education and firsthand experiences, and builds strong, trust-based partnerships that embed communications into core business activities.
Other panels brought together experts to discuss a wide range of topics in the housing communications space. These included strategies for clearly communicating complex and technical housing issues, understanding how technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping public discourse, the power of intergenerational storytelling, best practices for communicating before, during, and after natural disasters, and practical tools to help communicators engage confidently across media platforms.
All panel sessions will be made available to watch at nhc.org in the coming weeks.
NHC extends its gratitude to JPMorgan Chase, Rocket Companies, NeighborWorks® America, Leading Builders of America, Lennar Mortgage, AARP, the National Association of REALTORS®, Enact Mortgage Insurance, the Chenoa Fund/CBC Mortgage Agency, Community Solutions, the Home Builders Institute, and the National Multifamily Housing Council for their generous sponsorship of this event.